Ino closed the door to the two-bedroom apartment she shared with Hinata.  She walked to the kitchen and poured herself a large cup of milk.  She walked to her bedroom, and began to get ready for her shower.

Ino moved out of her parent's home a couple years back.  Her parents objected to it, saying that it was inappropriate for her live on her own, unmarried.  Ino thought she was old and mature enough to take life in her own hands.  She argued that her parents had raised her well, and she would be able to make it on her own.

Hinata moved out because it was part of the change she wanted to undergo.  Her father already saw her as weak successor to the Hyuuga clan.  Since the Chuunin exams years ago, she vowed to make herself stronger physically and mentally.  She always credited to Naruto for helping her see what was inside of her.  Since then, her relationship with Neji was improving.  He helped her train, and she helped him soften up to the brighter side of things.  Hinata has also given up her crush on Naruto, and sees him only as a friend and an admirer.  She also started dating Kiba from her team.  It was weird seeing the two together though.  Kiba, the wild loud-mouth, and Hinata, the soft-spoken reserved one.  But she couldn't be happier.

"Hinata, are you home?"  Ino called.  That's right, I forgot.  She's at her father's house for the night.  Hinata was with her family celebrating her younger sister's 18th birthday.  She was going to stay the night at her father's estate, and would be returning the next morning.

I guess it's just me for the night.  Should've rented a movie or something.  Ino got in the shower and leaned her head against the wall.  All she could think about was Shikamaru.  She wished for him to be home.  She missed his touch and his smell.  She even missed the boring nights when he came by and made her play a round Go.  He really is an old soul.  Ino smiled to herself as she got dressed in her pajamas, and got ready for bed.

Ino stood by the window, looking out to the moon and stars that had covered the night sky.  She made her way to her bed, as she lied there, she hugged her boyfriend's pillow tight.  She could smell his scent on the pillow.  She hugged it tighter.

Flashback

"If you leave your pillow, then when you get back, the first thing you want to do is sleep, and you can't sleep without your pillow.  So you'd have to come see me first before you go anywhere else.  I know you so well, if it weren't that way, you'd come see me the next day, not as soon as you got back."  Ino explained. "Also it smells like you."

"It smells like me?"  Shikamaru gave her a dull and confused look.

"Yeah, it has scent that's yours, and while your gone, this is the closest thing I'll have to you.  That and our picture.  I'm really going to miss you" Ino said with tears in her eyes.

End Flashback

Ino picked up the picture frames that stood on the night stand.  One was the picture of the InoShikaCho team when they were 12 years old.  The beginning of their friendship.  The second was a picture of Shikamaru and Ino at the festival of Konoha a month before he left.  As she looked at the pictures, she realized that Shikamaru had the same bored look on his face in both pictures. You really don't change.  You'll always rather look at the clouds all day than spend one minute with a happy grin on your face, you lazy bum.  Everything is just so 'troublesome' to you.  Ino couldn't help but smile.

You are definitely taking too long on your mission. You should've been back by now.  I hope everything is okay, and your safe.  As Ino hugged the pillow, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. 

Meanwhile

Tsunade was up to her neck in paperwork.  She disliked doing it, but she knew she had to do it.  She'd have given the job to Naruto, the Sixth Hokage, but she knew it would never have gotten done.

Tsunade gave the title of Sixth Hokage to Naruto about a year ago.  He really had grown up fine young man with everything to offer to the village he loved most.  Naruto has certainly sacrificed a lot for it, and has protected it and his friends since the beginning.  He deserved it through his hard work and dedication and love.

Damn, I'm so tired.  Just then a door opened at Shizune came in looking half asleep, but she had a small smile on her face.  "Got something you want to know…"

Ino wasn't a light sleeper, nor was she a deep sleeper.  But a few hours later, she did notice a cool breeze from the window.  She welcomed it by kicking her blanket off her.  She figured she must've left it open, and was too tired to wake up and close it.

Chapter 3 Coming.    I know they're looking short, they'll get longer I promise.  Please R&R.